Locking means for clothes-washing machines



Feb. 14, 1950 J. H. PALMER LOCKING MEANS FOR CLOTHES WASHING MACHINES Filed Nov. 20, 1947 Figi.

D ccoo o ,0,10 ok Inventor: John H- Prihreevj by 7W/fl m0? 'Patented' Feb. 14,l 1950 LOCKING MEANS FOR CLOTHES-WASHING MACHINES John Il. Palmer, Milford, Conn., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York appuuuon Nnvember 'zo'. 1947, serai No. 131,11;

(ci. 19a- 3.5)

Claims. l

The present invention relates to clothes washing machines of the type wherein washing is performed in a basket by an agitator, the basket afterwards being rotated to centrifugally extract the water from the clothes.

More particularly it` relates to such a machine wherein the motor of the machine oscillates the agitator through a gear train carried by a gear frame which is stationary during the agitate cycle and wherein the motor rotates the frame and gear train as a unit during the spin cycle. In such machines it is desirable that during the agitate cycle the gear frame and basket be held positively from turning and the object of my invention is to provide an improved mechanism for performing this function. For a consideration of what I 'believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following specification and to the claims appended thereto.

In the drawing, Fig. l is a sectional view of a washing machine embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on a larger scale of the operating mechanism, the section of certain parts being on the irregular section line 2--2, Fig. 4; Fig. 3 is a detail view taken on line 3 3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a detail view taken on line 4-4, Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a detail view taken on line 5-5, Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the upper end of the agitator showing parts in a position different from that of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, I indicates the tub of the washing machine which may be supported on a base 2 provided with feet or casters 3. In the tub is a unitary structure comprising a spin basket 4 in which the clothes are washed, an agitator 5 for performing the washing operation, and a sealed casing 6 in which is an electric motor and mechanism operated by it for oscillating the agitator to perform the washing operation, the

basket being then stationary, and for spinning the basketand the agitator to extract the water from the clothes. This unitary structure may be supported in the tub in any suitable way, the specific supporting means forming no part of my present invention. In the present instance,

, it is shown as being supported by a base spring 1 and three side springs 3. Base spring 1 is positioned between a strap 3 fixed to the bottom Il! of tub I and the bottom of casing 8. The lower end of casing 3 projects through an opening I I in bottom wall I3. The space between the edge of opening I I and the casing 3 is sealed by a suitable flexible diaphragm I2 attached at one edge to the wall surrounding opening I I and at the other edge to casing 6. Springs 3 are tension springs and are connected at one end to ears I3 on casing l and at the other ends to ears I4 fixed to the inner surface of the side wall of tub I. This arrangement serves to provide a yielding resilient mounting for the unitary structure comprising casing I, the mechanism therein, the basket 4, and the agitator 5. Tub I has an open top closed by a suitable cover I5 and handles I6 on its sides by which it may be lifted.

Casing B is shown as being formed in two sections, an upper section I1 and a lower section I8. The sections are provided with meeting flanges I9 which may be clamped together in sealing relation by studs 20. The motor for operating the mechanism is located in lower casing section IB. It comprises a suitable field structure 20a carried by casing section I8 and an armature 2i xed on a shaft 22. Shaft 22 is supported in an. upper bearing 23 carried by a diaphragm 24 which, at its edges, is supported on a shoulder 25 in casing section I8, and by a bearing in lower section I3 which may be in the form of a suitable step bearing (not shown).

Casing 6 is suitably sealed to make it liquid tight to prevent leakage either to or from the casing. On the upper end of motor shaft 22 is a pinion 26 which may be formed integral with the shaft and which meshes with a gear wheel 21 mounted on a shaft 28 which in turn is carried by upper and lower walls 29 and 3D of a gear frame 3|. Formed integral with gear wheel 21 is an eccentric 32 surrounding which is an eccentric strap 33 provided with an arm 34 which in turn is connected to an arm 35 xed to a hub 3S. Hub 3B is supported on the upper end of pinion 26 which forms a step bearing for it. It is connected to the lower end of a vertical agitator shaft 31. Shaft 31 is `journaled in lower and upper bearings 33 and 39 at the lower and upper ends of a vertical tubular spin shaft 40. The lower end of spin shaft 40 is fixed in a collar 4I by a pin 4I or other suitable means. Collar 4I forms a part of gear frame 3|. Spin shaft 4I) is journaled in a bearing 42 carried in the top wall of casing section I1. At 42L is a bearing pressed into an opening in lower wall 30 in which motor shaft 22 is positioned. Motor shaft 22 has a deep socket 43 in which an extension 44 which forms the lower end of shaft 31 is located. Between the lower end of shaft extension 44 and the bottom of sprocket 43 is a coiled compression spring 45 which biases shaft 31 in an upward direction.

Spin basket 4 is xed to tubular spin shaft 40. In the present instance the bottom wall of the basket is shown as having a conical upwardly projecting portion 46 which terminates in a sleeve 41 surrounding shaft 46. At its lower end sleeve 41 has a flat surface which rests on a collar 43 keyed to shaft 43. Collar 43 is fastened to sleeve 41 by a pin 49 thus connecting the basket to spin shaft 40.

Agitator is of known construction comprising a tubular center post 50 and blades 5|. It is xed to turn with shaft 31 by means of a non-circular opening at the upper end of post 59 which fits over a non-circular tapered nut 52 fastened on the upper end of shaft 31 and is held on the shaft by a knurled nut 52 which threads onto the upper end of the shaft. At its lower end, post 50 is journaled on bearing 53 pressed on sleeve 41.

During washing. gear frame 3| is stationary and the motor oscillates the agitator through pinion 26,"gear wheel 21, the eccentric connection and shaft 31. During spinning of the basket the motor is connected directly to gear frame 3| to rotate the gear frame, the tubular shaft 40 and the spin basket, shaft 31 and the agitator 5 being rotated along with the basket.

Mechanism is provided for connecting the motor shaft directly to gear frame 3| for spinning the basket. Fixed to the underside of gear frame 3| is a depending clutch ring 55 adapted to be engaged by suitable clutch facings 55 on the outer ends of a pair of clutch4 arms 51. The clutch arms are pivotally mounted on pins 58 carried by opposed ears which projectfrom a collar` 59 fixed to motor shaft 22 by suitable means such as the pin 30. The inner ends of clutch arms 51 stand adjacent to collar 59 on opposite sides of the collar, and in collar 59 and shaft 22 are holes in which are located sliding pins 6 I. The inner ends of pins 6| terminate in shaft socket 43 and normally engage the surface of shaft extension 44, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. In this position, the outer ends of the pins engage the inner ends of clutch arms 51, as shown in full lines in Fig. 4, to hold positively clutch facings 56 out of engagement with clutch ring 55. In the lower end of shaft extension 44 is an annular groove 82. When the motor shaft is to be connected to gear frame 3|. shaft 31 and the agitator along therewith is lifted to bring groove 62 into line with the inner ends of pins 6|, whereby when the motor rotates the outer ends of arms 51, being no longer held by pins 5|, are thrown out by centrifugal force o bring the clutch facing 53 into engagement withl clutch ring 55, whereby the motor armature is connected directly to gear frame 3| by the centrifugal clutch. At this time pins 8| move radially inwardly, their inner ends moving into groove 62.

Shaft 31 has two positions with respect to shaft 40, a lower or agitate position as shown in Fig-2, wherein pins 6| lock centrifugal clutch arms 51 against movement, and an upper or spin position wherein groove 62 is in line with the ends of pins 6| to release the clutch arms. To lock shaft 31 in these two positions, a detent mechanism is provided comprising a socket 53 inthe upper end of shaft 31 in which is positioned a shift pin 64 biased upward by a spring 65. upward movement being limited by a stop pin 66 driven across shaft 31 which extends through a vertical slot 61 in shift pin 64. In the wall of socket 53 are several circumferentially spaced holes in which are detent balls 63 adapted to engage in annular detent grooves 69 and 13 in the inner surface of bearing 39. In shift pin 64 is an annular groove 1| having beveled ends, the groove being normally positioned above balls 63. Shift pin 54 holds the balls in either groove 63 or groove 10 to lock shaft 31 against vertical movement. In Fig. 2 shaft 31 is shown as being locked in its lower or agitate position, balls 63 projecting partly into groove 69 and being so held by the outer surface of shift pin 64. To move the shaft to spin position, shift pin 54 is pressed down to bring groove 1| into line with balls 68 to release them, 'whereupon shaft 31 may be moved up to spin position. The balls are carried along with shaft 31 and as soon as they come into line with the other groove 13, spring 65 will move shift pin 64 (pressure on it having been removed) back to its normal position to force the balls into such other groove to lock the shaft in its spin position as shown in Fig. 6. The beveled end of groove 1| serves to cam the balls outward. In similar manner shaft 31 may be moved back to agitate position. This detent construction has the advantage that it is positive in action, and no amount of end thrust will cam the balls out of groove 69 or 10 because their movement is blocked by the shift pin. Shaft 31 can be moved only vwhen shift pin 54 is pressed down. The upper end of groove 62 is beveled to act as a cam for forcing pins 5| outward when shaft 31 is moved down from spin to agitate position.

The structure so far described forms no part of my present invention. Novel features thereof form subject matter of an application of Carl S. Dayton. Serial No. 787,228, filed of even date herewith, and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application.

In a machine of the above-described structure, it is desirable during the agitate cycle to lock the gear frame 3| against turning movement. My invention relates to an improved construction and arrangement for performing this function. Such locking means comprises a collar 12 on shaft 40 in which is a radial hole in which is positioned a releasing pin 13. Any suitable means may be provided for limiting radially outward movement of pin 13 under the action of centrifugal force. For example, it may be provided with a peened over inner end or a head as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. In collar 12 in line with the hole is a notch 14 with which engages the inner end of a locking pin 15. Pin 15 is positioned in a socket 16 in casing wall |1 and is biased to a position toward notch 14 by a spring 11. In shaft 31 is an annular groove 19 having beveled ends in which the inner end of pin 13 normally stands,

thus permitting locking pin 15 to engageV notch 14 to lock shaft 40 and gear frame 3|, to which itis attached, against turning. This is its position during an agitate cycle. When shaft 31 is lifted to spin position to release the centrifugal clutch so thatit may connect the motor to gear frame 3|, releasing pin 13 is cammed outward by the lower beveled edge of groove 18 to move lock-l ing pin 15 out of notch 14. the releasing pin being moved to a position where it is just flush with the surface of collar 12. This releases shaft 40. When ,shaft 40 is turning, the inner end of pin 15 rides on the surface of collar 12.

If desired, the arrangement may be such that shaft 31 is disconnected from the gearing carried by frame 3| during the spin cycle. To this end shaft 31 is shown as being provided with a tapered non-circular clutch head 30 which fits in =a socket 3| in a hub` 36 so that when shaft `3'! is raised to spin position to release the centrifugal clutch locking mechanism. clutch head is lifted free of socket 8i, hub 36 being then free to oscillate on shaft 3l'. rIhis arrangement is of advantage in that in shifting from agitate to spin it prevents any agitation of the shaft during the period required for the motor to reach a speed sufficiently high to effect actuation of clutch arms 51 to connect the motor shaft to frame 3l. At 82 is a pipe which during operation of the machine directs oil to parts requiring lubrication.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In mechanism for use in a clothes washing machine or the like comprising a casing, a gear cage in the casing, a tubular spin shaft connected to the cage, a motor, a clutch for connecting the motor to the cage, an agitator shaft in the tubular spin shaft movable axially relative thereto and gearing `carried by the cage through which the motor actuates the agitator shaft, means for locking the gear cage from turning when said clutch is open comprising a collar on the spin shaft having a locking recess, a spring pressed locking pin carried by the casing in line with said recess, and means carried by the spin shaft actuated by movement of the agitator shaft axially with respect to said spin shaft for determining the position of the locking pin with respect to said recess.

2. In mechanism for use in a clothes washing machine or the like comprising a casing, a gear cage in the casing, a tubular spin shaft connected to the cage, a motor, a clutch for connecting the motor to the cage, an agitator shaft in the tubular spin shaft movable axially to control said clutch, and gearing carried by the ycage through which the motor actuates the agitator shaft, means for locking the gear cage from turning when said clutch is open comprising a collar on the spin shaft having a locking recess, a spring pressed locking pin carried by the casing in line with said recess and biased to a position where its end is in the recess, and means carried by the spin shaft actuated by movement of the agitator shaft axially with respect to the spin shaft to a position where it permits said clutch to close to move said locking pin out of said recess.

3. In mechanism for use in a clothes washing machine or the like comprising a casing, a gear cage ln the casing, a tubular spin shaft connected to the cage, a motor, a clutch for connecting the motor to the cage, an agitator shaft in the tubular spin shaft movable axially relative thereto and gearing carried by the cage through which the motor actuates the agitator shaft, means for locking the gear cage from turning when said clutch is open comprising a collar on the spin shaft having a locking recess, a spring pressed locking pin carried by the casing in line with said recess, a releasing pin movable transversely of said collar and spin shaft for moving the end of the locking pin out of said recess, and means carried by said agitator shaft for effectively releas ing movement of said releasing pin when the agitator shaft is moved axially relatively to the spin shaft.

4. In mechanism for use in a clothes washing machine or the like, a tubular spin shaft, an agitator shaft in the tubular spin shaft movable axially relative thereto, a locking pin movable transversely of the spin shaft for holding the spin shaft from turning, and means actuated by axial movement of the agitator shaft relatively to the spin shaft for moving the locking pin from holding engagement with the spin shaft.

5. In mechanism for use in a clothes Washing machine, the combination of a fixed casing, a gear cage mounted ywithin the casing for rotation therein, a tubular spin shaft secured to the cage coaxially thereof, an agitator shaft in said spin shaft and movable axially relative thereto, a motor, means for optionally connecting the motor to the agitator shaft or the gear cage, locking means carried by said fixed casing, means for biasing said locking means into engagement with said spin shaft to lock the same against movement during operation of said agitator shaft, cam means on said agitator shaft having positions respectively representing a locked and unlocked position of said locking means according to the axial position of said agitator shaft relative to the spin shaft, and a cam follower carried by said spin shaft and interposed between said cam and said locking means to urge the latter to unlocked position upon movement of the agitator shaft to establish the second-named position of its cam means.

JOHN H. PALMER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS NameV Date Hays Oct. 31, 1944 Number 

